About the course:

The course will train its participants to implement the UPSIDES program in the framework in which they work.

What is the UPSIDES program?

The upsides program is a program developed in international cooperation (6 different countries, including Israel). The goal of the program is to implement peer support based on the effectiveness of experiential knowledge in the field of mental health. Based on the knowledge that was accumulated, the program was created, accompanied by a workbook and tools that aim to enable learning the skills, experiences, and knowledge that exist among those with experiential knowledge in coping and recovery processes and to enable strengthening the unique ability to support from life experience and shared destiny.

Among the topics studied: personal recovery and its application in everyday life, peer support, communication skills, tools for managing exposure, working with life stories, basic skills in facilitating peer groups, familiarization with the added value of knowledge from experience, creating a peer network and connecting to the community.

How does it work? The program is implemented with the help of peer support groups to develop and strengthen mental health services. The course will train facilitators to lead groups in rehabilitation settings in the course. The groups will last approximately 12 sessions, in which service recipients will participate.

During the course, we will learn all the stages of the program and its content, starting with the opening of the group, the implementation of the various sessions, and the end of the group. We will also learn skills for facilitating the group.

*** Successful course graduates will receive an internationally recognized certificate from the global UPSIDES project. 

Who is the course intended for:

Rehabilitation workers with knowledge from experience (rehabilitation instructors, supervisors, mentors, treatment coordinators with knowledge from experience) in the field of community rehabilitation and/or expert colleagues, 

Those with one year or more of experience in the field, who are interested in opening peer support groups within the service in which they work.

The employees must actually work within a framework in the community, and the framework's consent and willingness to accompany the process with internal guidance are required.

Registration for the course is in pairs of students from the same workplace (for the purpose of facilitating a joint group, at their workplace).

Course objectives:  

• Training students as facilitators to implement peer support-based interventions in various settings.
• Students will expand their knowledge about the recovery approach and its application in everyday life, and about peer support.
• Students will be introduced to tools for managing exposure and working with life stories, learn basic skills in facilitating groups and become familiar with the added value of knowledge from experience, creating a network of peers and connecting to the community.
• Learning will be carried out both theoretically and practically, with guidance and training focused on accompanying the delivery of the intervention throughout all stages of the course.

Course structure:

The course will be divided into two stages.

First stage: Three intensive workshop training sessions, once a week (six academic hours each session). During the training, theoretical and applied knowledge will be imparted, and participants will experiment and practice some of the materials.

Phase Two: Eight learning and training sessions (4 academic hours each session). During the sessions, participants will study in depth all parts of the program, practice skills for implementing the topics, and will be accompanied by group training on how to operate the group within the framework. The sessions will be held every two weeks.

Important to note : As an integral part of the course, each pair of facilitators must open a group within their work, approximately one month from the beginning of the course. Service recipients from the framework will be invited to participate in the group.

An upsides group within the framework meets every week, in the service where the students work in the course.

* The group will be guided by two facilitators, as part of their work ( both are required to participate in the course ).

Participants:

The course is intended for approximately 20 participants (coming in pairs from rehabilitation settings), rehabilitation professionals with knowledge from experience, expert colleagues or family members, with at least one year of experience in the field of rehabilitation in the community.

Course requirements:

• Attendance is mandatory for 90% of the classes. The participant must attend the workshops and training sessions regularly.
• Active participation in trainings and learning days
• Presenting a case in the training workshop and writing a concluding reflection
• Submitting exercises and assignments on demand
• Commitment to implementing the intervention during the course. Candidates must submit a declaration form signed by the program director stating their intention to guide the intervention during the course in the program. If a candidate, for any reason, cannot commit to continuous guidance from the beginning of the intervention to the end, they will not be accepted to the course.

Admission requirements:

• Registration is based on a pair of experienced instructors (2 instructors from a framework),
• Both have at least one year of experience in the field of mental health rehabilitation.
• Admissions interview.
• Registrants must present written consent from the program director regarding the actual implementation of the group, and the guidance of the instructors, in addition to the group guidance within the course.
• Willingness on the part of the organization to support the opening of at least one additional group after the course ends.